Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/93

 III. When they  arrived  at  Bethlehem,  they  went  from one inn  to  another,  but  they  could  not  find  any  entertainment. Good God! there was  a  place  for  every  other kind of  character;  but  there  was  no  room  to  be  found for the  Son  of  God. "He came  unto  His  own;  and  His own  received  Him  not." (John i.  n.)  Observe  with what patience  they  support  this  trial,  and  retire  into  a stable. " The  foxes  have  holes,  and  the  birds  of  the  air nests:  but  the  Son  of  Man  hath  not  where  to  lay  His head." (Matt. viii.  20.)  Pity,  admire,  adore. How often have you  denied  Him  entertainment,  when  your  heart was occupied  with  worldly  vanities  and  earthly  follies!

"Whoever is  a  little  one,  let  him  come  to  me." (Prov. ix.  4.)

I. Consider  the  words  of  the  prophet  Isaias:  "  A  little one  is  born  to  us,  and  a  son  is  given  to  us"  (Is.  ix.  6);  and the corresponding  words  of  the  gospel:  "You  shall  find the  infant  wrapped  in  swaddling-clothes,  and  laid  in  a manger." (Luke ii.  12.)  Thus  does  the  Lord  of  majesty delight in  the  name  of  a  little  one;  and,  that  He  might gratify this delight,  He  reduced  Himself  almost  to  nothing. Contemplate this  little  one  in  His  crib;  and  remember that  it  is  that  Being  "  who  hath  measured  the  waters in  the  hollow  of  His  hand,  and  weighed  the  heavens  with a  span;  who  hath  poised  with  three  fingers  the  bulk  of the  earth,  and  weighed  the  mountains  in  scales,  and  the hills  in  a  balance." (Is. xl.  12.)

II. This little  one  will  be  spiritually  born  in  your  soul this day,  by  holy  communion,  if  you  will  prepare  Him  a crib  in  Bethlehem,  that  is,  "  in  the  house  of  bread." He